The University of Leicester will invest £500 million as it looks to transform its campus and improve facilities.

The money will be spent on creating new teaching facilities, improving student accommodation, and creating a 'one campus' feel based on high-quality public spaces.

The project is to be funded through the university's own resources along with a bond provided by a bank.

Education leaders at the university are already in discussion with Leicester City Council, which owns the land, to determine how the project will take shape. Plans are currently being drawn up and construction should start in 2019.

Under the proposals, student accommodation at Freemen's Common will be demolished and replaced with a mixture of single and shared accommodation.

The Mary Gee blocks of accommodation will remain, but will undergo an extensive refurbishment to modernise its facilities.

Commenting on the project, director of estates and campus services, Brita Sread, said: "We're committed to improving the quality of experience for all those who use our facilities be they students, staff or the public.

"The university has invested significantly in its estate - we have built our new Centre for Medicine and recently completed our Engineering Roof project which had a combined cost of over £60million."

"As part of our new programme to transform our estate and ensure that we create a campus fit for the second century of our university, we plan to invest a further £500 million over the next 10 years."